Foreign relations of Barbados

In the Caribbean region, Barbados exercises a moderate political and economic power. The country’s foreign relations are handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Maxine McLean is Barbados’ Minister of Foreign Affairs since year 2008.

Barbados has an independent foreign policy. It reaches out to the world through its pro business and investment policies. Its focus on maintaining ties and alliance with countries that are possible partners in trade has been strengthened by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Also, its multilateral relationship is maintained through membership in various organisations such as the United Nations, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), the group of ACP countries, and the Organisation of American States.

The primary thrust of Barbados diplomatic relations lies with its membership with multilateral organisations. It has development and trade ties with the European Union and the European Commission, serving as an outline for future relations under the trading blocs in the Cotonou Agreement and the Lomé Convention.

Barbados has built official diplomatic relations with 103 countries around the world. However, at times, Barbados incidentally affects the United States of America’s influence in the English-speaking Caribbean.

Barbados, along with Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana established the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) in 1965. The following year, after gaining independence from United Kingdom, Barbados became a founding member of many other international organisations. Succeeding the CARIFTA in 1973, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Jamaica signed the Treaty of Chaguaramas and created Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM). As of today, the founding states were joined by other English speaking Caribbean nations and CARICOM has grown into a membership of 15 states.

Two organisations to which Barbados is a member, is based in the country: the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and eastern Caribbean's Regional Security System (RSS). Barbados also joined the Association of Caribbean states in 1994.The United Nations has also built a building in the country called the United Nations House which serves as a regional headquarter of UN for the Eastern Caribbean region.

Among the 103 countries with which Barbados maintains an official diplomatic relations, the countries on the top list are: Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Venezuela, Panama, Austria, Australia, France, Germany, China, India, Japan, Poland, Portugal, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, Switzerland, Sweden, South Korea, Israel, Iran, Kuwait, Iraq, The United Kingdom, and United Arab Emirates. Barbados maintains an embassy or consulate with these countries and likewise, these countries have their embassies or consulate in Barbados.

Barbados has signed agreements that uphold reciprocal promotion and protection of its investment treaties. These agreements are called Bilateral Agreement Treaties. Barbados has signed the Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union (BLEU) together with Canada, People’s Republic of China, Cuba, Ghana, Germany, Italy, Mauritius, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and Venezuela. With a growing list of nations which include Austria, Botswana, People’s Republic of China, CARICOM, Cuba, Finland, Ghana, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, Seychelles, Sweden, Switzerland, United States of America, and Venezuela, Barbados has signed the Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs).

Without a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the military of United States of America, Barbados is member of the International Criminal Court. Barbadian diplomatic missions are sent to countries all over the globe.